Nelson -palmer



NELSON-PALMER, on ALBANY, NewV YORK.

VLettera Patent No. 77,907, dated May 12, 1868i inrnovnnnnr '1N HORSE IHinz-roars.

dln rlgrhnls nfrttrt in im these tittrrs atntt mit linking mit ni tige time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, NELSON PALMER, of Albany, in the county ot' Albany, and State of New York, havev invented new and useful Improvements in Horse Hay-Forks; and I dohereby declare `that the following is a full. and complete description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which-i- 4Figure 1 is a perspective view, and i Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several views. 'p

The tines AA are slightly curved, andparallel from the points backward to the bolts b b, from which points the prolongations of the'tines A A become braces c c, which converge near each other at the top, and are connected with the opposite sides of the handle i respectively by welding. Passing above the arc of a circle described by the handle h, they become the elevated points of rest for the bail e. The handle L, from the point of contact with the'braces c c, forms the arc of a circle equal Vin length to the radins of said circle, having the bolt I), at

Ithe lower extremity 61" the brace c, as its centre.

From the top, the handle i is parted a sucient length to allow the proper action ofthe catch At a point near the lower end of the handleh are bolted braces d el, which extend forward and diverge, so that they"` severally come in con-tact with the braces c c, at or near their junction with the base of the tines A A, and are fastened, by the bolts I firmly together atv those points.

A t or near the same points on the outside is hinged the bail c, the sides of which, curving in conformity with the braces c c, converge at the top of the handle h, and extend upward, parallel to each other, a sufficient distance apart to allow the handle t to move freely between them. The height of the bail e is' equal to the length ot the tines A A. Between the parallel sides e of the bail is placed a'roller, z', at such a point near the handle L as to allow the bail e to move freely along the handle 7L without the roller i coming incontact with it, except at the top. There it is made to tit into-a concavity in the back edges of the elevated points n, the front edges being convex or rounded. At a point below the opening iu the handle his riveted to it theeatch L, which extends upward along the handle L until it reaches the roller zr', when the bail is upright, orV in position for elevating the fork. l

At that point, forming an angle, it passes'downthrough thp` opening in thehandlehfand forms a lever, l', for operating the vcatch k. Behind the catch L', between the open parallel sides of the handle h, is placed a roller, rv, against which the catch 7c rests. When the bail e is passing into position, the roller z', coming in con; tact with the catch lr, forces it down upon or near: the handle'i, until the bail e, having reached its extreme elevation, thecatch Zr springs up behind the roller z', and holds the bail e in an -upight and the tncs A A in a horizontal position. When the fork is elevating its load of hay or other substance, the catch is rmlysup ported by its fastening to the handle h, and its pressure against the roller x. Whensucii'load is to be discharged,

the tension of the cord l, attached to the lower extremity of the lever Z', depresses the catch It', and the bail, being released, moves` freely along the handle h', allows the-times A to approach the perpendicularand dis charge their burden. 4 i i In4 the top of the bail e is a loop,f, to which the power is applied, and the loop g in the lower end of the handle is for convenience in operating the fork.

This fork is made with two tines A A. It may be made with three or four tines; with three, luy-inserting' one between these two, by making the curve the same, and dividing the prolongation, ata convenient point above the bolt b', into braces c c', and'bolting them tothe braces c c, or by extending the prolongation of said tine back to -the handle h, as a brace, d', and bolting-braces c eto the base of the tine, Vand to the braces c c.

It'may be made with four tines, by extending the outside tines A A back, and bolting them to the handle has l the braces d d, and dividing the bail e below the handle L` into four parts, attaching the lower extremity of one part to each of the tines A A a a by the bolts b I7 Za b; or by extending the inside tines a a back, and boltmg,r

them to the handle h, and extending braces o c from said tines to thel braces@ p; or, again, by extending'all the 'cines back, converging and bolting them'to'thehandle `h asbrzioes d d d cl', and uniting braces/1 c from the ontside tines A A with the handle lt at the top,.an'd the inside tines a a to theibraces c o, amil boiling them together, so that the spaces between the tiues A A a d, from thebolts b b b b to the points, shall be equal to each other.l

What I claim as m'y invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'lhe spring-eatchk, in eombinntien with the bail e and rollei` e', for the purpose of holding the hail e in pimition, or releasing it, at pleasure. l i

In testimony whereof@` Ir'have signed my narr'xe to this specification in the presence of two subscribiv'xgwitnesses.

NELSON PALMER.

Witnesses 3?. HoLLoWAY, ibis. It. som 

